Spotting after Period and 10 Causes You Should Know

What’s spotting after period? This is a very small amount of blood that passes through the vaginal opening to the outside. Is it a normal case or should you talk to your gynecologist? When spotting is safe it is only light bleeding that stays for a couple of hours or up to 2 days, not more. If it lasts for more than 3 days, it should be a reason for concern.

When should you seek medical help? When you experience vaginal spotting after your period, you should consult your gynecologist, if:

light spotting turns into heavy bleeding and lasts for more than 2 days

spotting is accompanied by extreme pelvic pain

you experience spotting after unprotected sex

If spotting is normal, it is not followed by any symptoms, but if you also suffer from nausea, abdominal cramping, headache, back pain and frequent urination, seek medical assistance.

Top 10 Reasons for Spotting after Period

Old blood. Some women experience spotting a week or two after their period. It occurs because the body didn’t manage to expel all of the menstrual blood and some amount of it is still present inside the uterus. This is an absolutely safe condition;

Unregulated cycles. This is a common feature for all teenage girls. Since their bodies haven’t adjusted to menstrual hormones and other changes, girls often have light spotting that scares them a lot. Such spotting may occur for a few years before the body manages to get into a routine menstrual pattern;

Fibroids in the uterus. This is the growth of tumors in the uterus that lead to the occurrence of discharges after period. within addition to spotting, women may suffer from discomfort and pelvic pressure, difficulty emptying the bladder, frequent urination and pain in the back;

Birth-control pill intake.Contraceptive pills cause spotting after the cycle in 75% of cases. They mimic the hormones progesterone and estrogen to control menstrual cycles and help to stop ovulation. Though such pills are prescribed by doctors, they still cause a disruption in the hormonal balance and lead to bleeding after periods;

Chlamydial infection is another trigger worth your attention. This is a STD that affects the cervix, vagina, urinary tract, rectum, throat and eyes. Such bacteria are easily transmitted through oral sex, the anus or the vagina;

Deeper penetration during intercourse. Not all women know that a vigorous and rough sexual intercourse causes spotting after period. Such penetration bruises the cervix and causes physical injury, which leads to light spotting that is usually accompanied by pain;

Endometrial cancer is one of the most serious causes of spotting. This disease affects the uterine lining and endometrial cells. It can also cause pelvic pain, abdominal discharge and lead to painful intercourse;

Polypsare cellular growths that can go unnoticed until they lead to the occurrence of vaginal spotting. When left neglected they can become cancerous growths and lead to fatal consequences;

Yeast infectionsand bacterial infections plague women and lead to discomfort and weird-colored discharges with an unpleasant smell;

Pelvic inflammatory disease is a bacterial infection of the uterus lining, ovaries and fallopian tubes. Usually, this condition is caused by gonorrhea and chlamydia that pass during sexual intercourse. The condition is accompanied by a number of symptoms, including spotting, fever, pains and aches in the pelvis, lower back and lower abdomen pain. Pelvic inflammatory disease can be diagnosed through a blood test and is treated with antibiotics.

Can It Be a Sign of Ovulation?

Yes, it can. When the egg is released from a cyst, estrogen causes a rupture to release it. Some women experience abdominal cramping when the process is taking place. Then they notice light spotting, which can last up for 2-3 days.

Get a Pregnancy Test

What for? You can be pregnant. When the fertilized egg attaches itself to the endometrium, a very small amount of blood escapes and a woman sees bleeding. Specialists call it breakthrough bleeding.

What about Additional Symptoms?

Normally, spotting occurs on its own, without any additional symptoms. But, many things depend on the case and those factors that contributed to the occurrence of spotting. A woman can suffer from frequent urination, back pain, headache, nausea, abdominal cramping, etc. So, when telling your doctor what symptoms you are suffering from, don’t forget to mention what drugs you take.

Spotting after period is normal, if you follow the rules of hygiene, have protected sex and don’t change partners.